Up to 30 new jobs are to be created at a well established Hull firm which has secured £650,000 investment to fuel expansion.
Lazenby Group on the city’s Sutton Fields Industrial Estate specialises in making self service kiosks that are used by customers at fast food restaurants and major retailers such as Argos, among other high street places. The 28-strong business says it has now developed the world’s first self cleaning, self service kiosks which it hopes to sell worldwide.
Bosses have secured investment from NPIF II – Mercia Debt Finance, which is managed by Mercia Debt as part of the Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund II (NPIF II). The £650,000 sum has paved the way for the firm to expand production with a new facility in Hull.
A new 8,000 sqft factory at its headquarters will host an additional assembly line for its SafeTouch kiosks. The product uses ultraviolet C (UVC) light to kill germs between uses.
The technology is already in use at airports thanks to a major contract win with Collins Aerospace, which provides services to airports around the world. The forthcoming production line will lead to the creation of new jobs over the next five years as the product is marketed to customers with busy retail environments where the spread of infection can take place easily.
Neil Sewell, managing director, said: “Self-service kiosks are increasingly popular but have to be cleaned regularly by hand. Our SafeTouch technology kills germs automatically in just 38 seconds without any human intervention or harsh chemicals and has attracted international attention. The funding will help us increase capacity and work towards our goal to become the largest original equipment manufacturer of kiosks in Europe.”
Lazenby Group was founded in the early 1960s by sheet metal processor Paul Lazenby. The business was acquired in the mid-1990s when Paul retired and businessman Bill Neale, a specialist in gaming machines, stepped in and used Lazenby to manufacture coin mechanisms. Since Bill’s death three years ago the company has been controlled by longstanding employees, husband and wife Neil and Dawn Sewell.
Rebecca Pickering of Mercia Debt added: “Lazenby has gone from a small metal processor to a market-leading kiosk manufacturer. The company has a history of innovation and its latest product is set to disrupt the industry. We are pleased to help the company to step up production and roll it out worldwide.”
Lizzy Upton, senior investment manager at the British Business Bank, said: “Lazenby Group is a fantastic example of the type of innovation and ambition we’re proud to support through NPIF II. From its base in Hull, the company is not only transforming how self-service technology operates but is also scaling globally with its groundbreaking SafeTouch kiosk. This investment demonstrates how regional businesses in Yorkshire and the Humber can drive international growth while creating skilled jobs and boosting local economies.”
Andrew Bradley at Humber Business Growth Hub provided fundraising advice to Lazenby. The £660m Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund II (NPIFII) covers the entire North of England and provides loans from £25k to £2m and equity investment up to £5m to help a range of small and medium sized businesses to start up, scale up or stay ahead.
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